Re-birth: The Beginning after the End - Chapter 112

Chapter 112: BROTHERS MEET SPACE

Three days flew by quickly. Li Hua had been cultivating in her inner space every chance she got. When she opened the door to her room, she was surprised to see her brothers standing there, both wearing eager expressions.

“Sister, we’re completely healed,” Li Hao announced, practically bouncing with enthusiasm despite trying to maintain a more mature demeanor. His voice cracked slightly with excitement before settling. “Now tell us your secret training session.”

Li Wei stood beside him with more composure, though his eyes couldn’t hide their curiosity. He’d clearly been analyzing the mysteries surrounding their little sister these past few days, adding each unexplained detail to his mental collection of questions.

Li Hua studied them both carefully, her trained eyes assessing their condition. Their meridians had indeed healed well—the medicinal baths and her healing sessions had done their work. She could sense their cores humming with stable energy, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

A small smile curved her lips. “Very well.”

She reached out to take their hands, not necessary but she wanted them to feel connected as she guided them into her sanctuary for the first time. As the world shifted around them, she felt their fingers tighten around hers—whether from instinct or amazement, she couldn’t tell.

The moment they materialized in her space, chaos erupted. Feng Yi was the first to reach them, its multiple tails creating a whirlwind of joy as it tackled Li Wei. Before her brother could even regain his balance, Lei Lei and Dian Dian bounded over in streaks of lightning, their small forms colliding with his chest and sending him tumbling backward with a very undignified yelp.

Bai Ying, despite its usual dignity, wasn’t far behind. The frost tiger’s massive form knocked Li Wei completely to the ground, its icy whiskers twitching with uncontained happiness as it nuzzled against its master. The sight of her composed eldest brother pinned beneath his overjoyed spirit beasts, trying to maintain some semblance of scholarly dignity while being showered with affection, made Li Hua’s heart warm.

“You’ve had them all this time?” Li Wei managed to ask through the assault of loving spirit beasts, his voice thick with emotion despite his attempts at composure. Lei Lei and Dian Dian were already creating a crown of sparks in his hair, while Feng Yi’s tails wrapped around them all like a protective cocoon.

Li Hua nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Of course, I couldn’t abandon them.”

Li Hao let out a chuckle, then, without hesitation, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gently knocked his head against hers in a wordless show of affection. She let out a quiet laugh, leaning into his warmth for just a moment as they both watched the joyful chaos before them.

Once Li Wei managed to sit up, still surrounded by his affectionate spirit beasts, both brothers finally took in their surroundings. Their eyes widened as they gazed at the impossible space before them—vast forest, the garden pavilion made out of pure jade, the gold ornate bridge, and the large courtyard house. The architecture of the courtyard home left them speechless—while its foundation followed the familiar principles of their traditional homes, there were elements to its design that seemed to come from another world entirely. Clean lines and strange materials merged with classical structures in ways that challenged everything they knew about building design.

“Sister, what is this place?” Li Hao asked, his eyes taking in their surroundings.

“My inner space,” she replied softly. “I’ve had it for as long as I can remember.”

“Like you were born with it?” Li Wei asked, his scholarly brows furrowing at the strange phrasing.

“No questions on how I acquired this space,” Li Hua said softly but firmly. She couldn’t bear to see their faces when they learned she wasn’t their sister’s original soul—that truth would have to wait. “At least not until Māmā and Bàba are with us.” She would tell the entire family her story when they were together again. For now, there were more pressing matters. “Come, let me show you around.”

She moved toward the courtyard house, grateful that her brothers, though clearly burning with questions, respected her wishes. The spirit beasts followed behind them, their joy at reunion tempering the weight of unspoken truths.

At the courtyard’s heart lay a sophisticated reflection pool, its black granite surface creating a mirror-like expanse broken only by geometric platforms that seemed to float on water. Red silk-like peonies lined the edges of the walkways, their delicate petals catching the spiritual breeze in a mesmerizing dance. Li Hua couldn’t help but smile at her brothers’ matching expressions of awe—Li Wei’s scholarly composure momentarily forgotten as he searched for formation arrays that weren’t there, while Li Hao’s mouth hung open in uncharacteristic silence.

“Close your mouth, brother,” Li Wei managed, though his own voice carried confusion. “You’re not a fish spirit beast.”

“Says the one who keeps grabbing at empty air,” Li Hao shot back, his usual energy returning. “Looking for formations again, scholar?”

“Let me show you each wing,” Li Hua interrupted their banter with fond exasperation. To the east, they entered a vast training sanctuary with polished floors and mirrored walls. The room hummed with spiritual potential, and Li Hao’s eyes lit up with such excitement that Li Hua could practically see him planning future training sessions.

“This is incredible!” he exclaimed, bouncing on his toes. “No wonder you always beat us in sparring, sister!”

“She beat us because she’s better trained,” Li Wei corrected automatically, though his attention was clearly divided. His scholarly hands kept reaching out as if expecting to touch formation arrays, only to find none. Each empty search made his brows furrow deeper with fascination and confusion.

“Actually,” Li Hua said softly, “I’ve never trained here for combat.” Both brothers turned to look at her in surprise. “But now,” her eyes softening, “I believe there is a reason to start.”

The northern wing held Li Hua’s single bedroom, it was spacious, yet warm. Inside, on a silk pillow that seemed to capture starlight in its threads, rested Little Firefly. The spirit creature’s gentle golden glow pulsed softly, like a heartbeat made of light. Both brothers stared in wonder at the unusual being.

“This is Little Firefly, my spirit companion,” Li Hua said softly, a hint of fondness in her voice. “He’s in the middle of… a cultivation breakthrough right now, but I’m sure he’d love to meet you properly once he’s finished.”

Li Hao nodded in understanding, though his eyes lingered on the softly glowing creature with barely restrained curiosity. Li Wei, on the other hand, took in the entire room with sharp observation—his attention flitting not just to the bed and furnishings but to the subtle flow of energy running through the space. He didn’t question it aloud, but Li Hua could see the gears turning in his mind, cataloging every oddity.

That curiosity deepened when they stepped into the adjoining bath.

The large soaking tub, carved from a single piece of jade and marble, immediately caught their attention, but it wasn’t the only thing that did. Li Wei’s scholarly control finally cracked as he examined every detail—not just the elegant bath but the strange fixtures that made no sense to him. His fingers hovered over the faucets, his brow furrowed as he twisted one experimentally. When warm, perfectly regulated water poured out with effortless ease, he recoiled slightly before leaning in with greater scrutiny.

“Sister…” he murmured, eyes darting between the faucets, the strange porcelain basin, and the ceramic seat with an oddly designed structure. “How is this possible without arrays? These mechanisms… they shouldn’t be able to exist…”

Li Hao, who had been circling the massive tub with obvious appreciation, finally tore his attention away and burst into laughter. “Brother, your scholarly mind is breaking,” he teased. “Forget the mechanisms—look at this thing! You could fit five people in here!”

Li Wei barely acknowledged him, still studying the plumbing system as if he had stumbled upon an unsolvable mystery. Li Hua watched with amusement as her usually composed eldest brother examined the toilet with wary fascination, clearly unsure of its function.

Throughout the tour, Li Hua watched her brothers with warmth in her heart. Despite their obvious burning curiosity—especially Li Wei’s bewilderment at the lack of formation arrays—they kept their promise not to question the space’s origins.

The spirit beasts followed their progress, sharing in their masters’ excitement—Lei Lei and Dian Dian bouncing between the brothers, while Feng Yi’s tails created gentle breezes of contentment, and Bai Ying maintained its dignified pace beside Li Wei, though its frost-touched whiskers twitched with amusement at each new discovery made by its master.